1. March is here! (3)
March arrives...
The Sưa flowers still bloom as before
He returns to the small street of his youth
Searching for the Sưa trees where we once met
Rain unwittingly causes the Sưa petals to scatter.
March comes...
Why does the afternoon sun seem so confused?
The Sưa flowers have fallen, and the sunlight has nowhere to land
Gazing at the fallen blossoms, a wave of longing stirs
As sorrow fills my eyes, unwilling to stop.
March arrives...
My heart aches tightly
She has gone, and I wait for no one
The words of love from long ago still echo in my ears
That shoulder now distant, forever gone.
March is here...
You left, never to return
The Sưa trees remain, standing tall
But the promises made have vanished without a trace
The Sưa flowers droop, and so too, our love fades...
Hanoi, 25/3/2018


2. I will return in the sweet fragrance of grapefruit blossoms
March arrives with flowers blooming everywhere
The Sưa flowers cover the old road
The spring wind blows, carrying the warmth of sunlight
And the purple Xoan playfully dances in the early light
March comes, the purple áo dài sways
Someone’s silhouette gracefully walks beneath the Ban trees
The purple Ban flowers bring a flood of memories
Spring has arrived, but is there anyone still waiting?
March arrives, the Gạo tree glows with red tiles
The same path we used to walk together
Which dragonfly is now casting sunlight onto my poem?
Love as deep as the red Gạo flowers paints the world
March comes, the fragrance of flowers fills the air
At a house at the end of the street
Sweet aromas rise, intoxicated by love’s scent
If you were still standing there waiting for me
I would return to you in the embrace of grapefruit blossoms!
Hanoi, 26/3/2018


3. Purple Phoenix Flowers
March arrives, and the purple Phoenix flowers begin to bloom,
The dreamy evening in Da Lat filled with memories,
Spring has come to the vibrant highlands,
I miss you, remembering that day, that year!
At Hồ Xuân Hương, the wind whispers,
The purple Phoenix flowers send their farewell message,
"Once you've finished your studies, return, I will wait for you,
I will wait, with no regard for the passage of time!"
Spring comes and goes, but the longing remains intense,
Your words are forever etched in my heart,
This March, I return to the old familiar place,
Will the purple Phoenix flowers still be waiting by the door?
Da Lat still lives within me, as beautiful as ever,
Remembering the past, remembering the season of purple Phoenix flowers,
I will return to the beloved highlands,
I will return to the purple Phoenix flowers of old!


4. March Returns Again!
March returns...
The red Gạo flowers bloom along the dike,
I wait for you on the old path home,
Seeing you off when the Mộc Miên tree bloomed that day,
The sky turned red, mirroring the memories I carry.
March returns...
The sunlight scatters golden particles,
Falling gently as if reminding me,
How many seasons have passed, how many Gạo flowers have bloomed,
Where are you, filling my heart with longing?
March returns...
I wonder, will you come back here,
Do you still remember this place where I waited,
Do you still hold onto the love we shared,
The old vow – will the red Gạo flowers bring you back?
This March...
The Mộc Miên blossoms paint the sky of the countryside,
Reviving the old passions of the past,
Come back, fulfill my yearning,
Come with me, and let us light the flame of fate together!


5. March - Ban Flowers & Me
Please, my dear!
Don’t miss your promise this March,
Come to the Northwest, come to me!
Who said you've already joined the horn festival,
And lost yourself in the Ban flowers of the Northwest?
Don’t you know,
My heart is racing with excitement,
Every March, I eagerly wait,
Watching the Ban flowers blanket the mountains and forests,
I just wait, endlessly hoping for your return!
Oh, Ban flowers!
What wrong have we done,
Why must we wait so long,
I feel restless, as you still haven’t come,
The old Khèn tree from years ago... hanging by the window!
Please, my dear!
Come back this March!
Admire the Ban flowers during the village festival!
It’s because of you that my heart has awakened,
Ban flowers bloom, and the sound of the Khèn... oh, how unforgettable!
Don’t you know,
My love blooms brightly,
Like the Ban flowers in March,
I wait for you in the Northwest, in the mountains and rivers,
Let’s reignite the passion of our old days!
Hà Nội, 3/3/2019


6. The Purple Xoan Flower!
The borderland evening is bathed in the golden light of a purple sunset,
My heart tightens with the longing for home,
In the vast mountains and forests of the borderlands,
I still wait, still look towards my homeland!
March has come, and the spring flowers have bloomed,
The flowers proudly show their colors beneath the spring sky,
The Sưa flowers remain pure and white,
Competing with the vibrant Ban flowers in bloom!
Radiating beautifully in the warm spring sunshine,
Are the purple Xoan flowers at the edge of the village,
On the day I left, the Xoan flower buds shyly bloomed,
Gently handing them to me, you whispered softly:
“Go ahead, go to the borderlands,
In my hometown, I will always wait for you,
Our love is sweet like grapefruit and lemon blossoms,
Our devotion is as constant as the purple Xoan flowers!”
March has returned, bringing the season of blooming flowers,
And you have completed your duty and promised to come back,
The unchanging color I gifted to you as you departed,
I will forever remember, engraved in my heart, the purple Xoan flowers!
Hà Nội, 6/3/2019


7. Remembering the Flowers of March!
March arrives, planting a seed of longing in the heart,
The spring of my homeland is blooming, intoxicating and warm,
The red Mộc Miên recalls someone with its vibrant hue,
The Ngọc Lan gently spreads its sweet fragrance in the air!
As March brings its wave of passionate springtime love,
The scent of grapefruit lingers in the breeze,
The ever-loyal Xoan flowers bloom along the roadsides,
Waiting for someone, as memories slowly drift along the path!
The white Sưa flowers make the heart ache,
Under the Ban tree, someone waits for a familiar face,
Oh March, your beauty fills the soul,
Your flowers bloom so intensely, full of life and love!
March returns, bringing the enchanting colors of spring,
Its brilliance captures the heart of anyone who passes by,
If one day we must part ways,
The flowers of March will forever stay in my heart, remembered!
Hà Nội, 10/3/2019


8. Fond Memories of March!
I turn back,
To a distant past,
Flipping through the pages of my childhood,
Searching for those old memories,
Those moments of life that are hard to forget!
I sift through,
The unnamed memories,
The worries of school days,
Running off to play, only to return too late,
Mother’s punishment, tears flowing down!
I still remember,
The recess time at school,
A sea of red from the blooming Gạo flowers,
I climbed and plucked a fresh, bright flower,
Planned to give it to someone, but it fell!
One day,
It was just the two of us,
You looked at me, unexpectedly shifting your gaze,
And from the desk, a fragrance filled the air,
The scent of grapefruit from March... shy first love!
I left school,
We parted ways for a while,
You stayed back in the village,
While I went off to the borders,
Now, I still remember... those childhood days!
I will never forget,
The scent of grapefruit in March,
If only the red Gạo flowers hadn’t fallen,
Perhaps our love would not have faltered,
But this March, we’ve found each other again!
Hà Nội, 11/3/2019


9. A Visit to the Capital – Admire the March Flowers
Spring arrives across the countryside,
The capital is blooming, come in March!
Hà Nội, with its white Sưa flowers,
Visit Thanh Niên Street if you haven’t been yet,
Then try visiting,
If you’re not satisfied, look for Sưa in other streets.
Have you been to Phan Đình Phùng Street?
Anyone who hasn’t visited the capital, should come!
Or try Phan Chu Trinh Street,
Or Điện Biên Phủ, with its vibrant colors,
The pure white of first love,
That color you’ll remember forever!
The Ban flowers from the faraway Northwest,
Have now arrived, brightening up Hà Nội,
Walk along Nguyễn Du street,
Or Trương Hán Siêu next to Thiền Quang Lake,
Visit Hoàng Diệu, Bắc Sơn,
The air is filled with the fragrance of Ban flowers, full of love!
The beautiful purple xoan flowers,
Are blooming around the suburban areas, my friend,
From Từ Liêm, Hoài Đức, Thanh Trì,
To Đông Anh, look for xoan flowers on the way.
The purple flowers are everywhere,
Steeped in loyalty and deep, loving affection!
If the red catches your heart,
Search for Gạo flowers – at Hương Pagoda, Trầm Pagoda,
Do you know Đoan Nữ, An Mỹ?
Don’t miss the Mỹ Đức District!
The Mộc Miên flowers bloom red in March,
Capturing the hearts of travelers, near and far!
If you haven’t seen them yet,
The fragrance fills the air, sweet and enchanting,
Come visit Từ Liêm, Chương Mỹ,
Where the Bưởi trees grow, in the rural areas of Hà Thành,
You’ll soon understand,
How the scent of grapefruit expresses love!
March is here again,
The capital is in full bloom, come and visit!
Hà Nội, 12/3/2019


10. The Grapefruit Scent of March!
On a March evening, gazing at the moon hanging at the gate,
Golden seeds scattered across the old porch,
Whistling winds slipping through the darkness,
Carrying the gentle fragrance of the Ngoc Lan flower!
Remember those times when I waited under the porch, right?
You would sneak out through the back door of your house,
Trying to surprise me quietly,
You didn’t know I had already noticed!
It was the scent in your hair,
That gave you away, it was unmistakably you,
Oh, that familiar grapefruit scent,
Lingering in the air during our secret rendezvous!
For years, the memory lingers, cherished,
Always with me, stirring my heart with longing,
Will you still be waiting for me tonight,
Eagerly hoping and longing for my return?
The grapefruit fragrance of March stays with me,
Even after so long, the memories still fill my heart,
Tonight, the echoes of those memories linger,
Sending my thoughts back to you with the sweet scent of grapefruit!
Hanoi, 14/3/2019


11. The Bittersweet March!
March comes, bringing with it a deep and lingering yearning,
The scent of spring fills the warm breeze!
The path is flooded with the purple blooms of Xoan trees,
Our love, intoxicated by an abundance of tender affection!
March arrives, carrying many lasting memories,
Like a spring garden, wrapped in the passion of the season,
A vivid shade of green, fresh and bright,
Your hair carries the fragrance of grapefruit and sweet lime!
March arrives with the dry warmth of the morning sun,
Spring flowers greet us from all directions,
The fragrance of Ngoc Lan flowers gently drifts down,
My heart flutters, stirred by waves of emotion!
March arrives, with a passion that lingers in the late afternoon,
The sunset burns red, reluctant to let night take over,
My heart has already become tangled in memories,
The old promises, filled with longing and love!
Hanoi, 15/3/2019


12. A Pure and Beautiful Love!
March arrives...
The old street is covered in white Hoa Sua blossoms,
Reminding me of the pure white of our youth,
Together we rode our little bicycle to school,
Spending the days together, always remembering, always loving!
I still remember...
That morning when we went to school,
With me sitting behind you on the way to class,
The rain suddenly poured... the Hoa Sua fell... and you cried,
You blamed the sky for being cruel to let the rain fall!
And that night...
I will always remember, my love,
Hand in hand, we heard someone's gentle words:
You loved the Hoa Sua because, perhaps,
Its purity mirrored your beautiful love – white and flawless!
We looked at each other...
Words left unspoken,
Our arms around each other... lips meeting... sweet as honey,
In the silence, we made promises,
That we would walk together to the end of the road!
Then I left...
Carrying with me a heart full of longing,
Hiding in my soul all the passionate desires,
Now, as I return, the Hoa Sua trees are blooming white,
Weaving the threads of our love, ever deep and pure!
Hanoi, 19/3/2019


13. A Conversation Between Hoa Sua and Hoa Ban
One morning,
The Hoa Sua had just woken up,
Its droplets of sorrow seemed to cry for someone,
The Hoa Ban saw this and quickly offered a word of comfort,
If you weep, I too will shed tears for you!
The Hoa Sua quickly replied,
Those tears are just the morning dew,
But sister, I still feel so sad,
Who among us is more beautiful,
You see, I am pure and innocent!
And yet, even you,
Are mistaken,
My tears, they are like the early morning mist,
But something feels off,
Perhaps I’m sad because of this!
So that’s it,
That’s the reason,
The sadness comes from being underestimated,
The Hoa Ban softly spoke:
You know, I come from the remote northern mountains,
And though I left my homeland,
I too once felt the same as you,
Now, after sharing, I understand more,
The story of the Hoa Ban is something just for me, Hoa Sua!
Don’t worry,
When others say such things,
Hoa Sua, perhaps only you stand out,
Pure, graceful, and gentle,
No other flower in March can match your beauty!
So cheer up and let go of the frustration,
We will both shine in the capital,
So that when people from Hanoi leave,
They will forever remember Hanoi’s March flowers!
Hanoi, 21/3/2019


14. Let Go of the March of the Past
That March has faded into the past,
Only the season’s flowers remain unchanged,
We parted ways, and the feeling we named
Is the kind of goodbye that no longer waits!
That March, was it the fault of the Mộc Miên tree,
Still passionately spreading the sweet scent of pomelo,
Its pure white blossoms, the Hoa Sua still sparkling,
And the Xoan tree, loyal to its purple hue, remained unchanged!
Or was it the Ban trees that made us shed tears,
Leading us in two opposite directions?
Don’t, please don’t let the Ban trees suffer,
When love lingers no longer!
Let the past love be buried deep inside,
So that March can quietly call the flowers back,
Once again filling the air with the intoxicating scent of pomelo,
Leading us to memories of love and longing!
Let the Mộc Miên bloom red as fire,
The Hoa Sua’s whiteness perfect for lovers,
And the Xoan, still loyal, gleams in its purple light,
March will once again be sweet – warm – full of love – and memories!
Let’s forget that March from the past!
Hanoi, 23/3/2019


15. The Bittersweet March of Da Lat
Will you return to Da Lat this March?
The Mai Anh Dao flowers are blooming so brightly,
The Xuân Hương Lake is now filled with a sea of red,
And in me, the feelings of longing continue to rise!
This March, the White Ban flowers still exude their fragrance,
Carrying the unique beauty of Da Lat,
Pure white, calling out to my deepest desires,
I wait for you, filled with passion and yearning!
The promise made that day, at the moment of farewell,
I have engraved it in my heart and still remember after all this time,
The loyal purple blooms like the Phoenix returning to the street,
I wait for March, when you will return to me!
Our love paints the countryside sunset red,
The evening sun lingers, filling the air with passion,
Da Lat in me remains warm and full of love,
I still wait for you, arms wide open!
Da Lat, oh Da Lat, this March is full of longing,
The Mai Anh Dao flowers still carry my memories,
The White Ban trees continue to bloom with purity,
The Purple Phoenix stands, waiting for your return!
Hanoi, 25/3/2019


16. Farewell March
Spring is maturing, still holding on tight,
So March can’t bear to leave in haste,
The flowers of March are at their peak of youth,
Still full of love—why rush into the next month?
But time never waits for anyone,
The winds of change call for the coming rain,
The trees shed their leaves, their petals fall,
Calling for summer... oh March, don’t be sad!
Though March's flowers still bloom with longing,
Though my heart aches for the beauty of March,
The summer sun is soon to arrive,
March, it’s time to say goodbye for now!
Just one year, it won’t be too long,
March’s purity and brilliance will return,
Once again, we’ll lose ourselves in its intoxicating beauty,
But for now... March, it’s farewell!
Hanoi, 27/3/2019


17. The Legend of the Ban Flower
Come visit Hanoi, the capital city,
Come back to March, filled with longing,
The March flowers, with their extraordinary beauty!
Leaving, you'll forever hold the memory close!
Can you guess which flower carries a legend,
The Ban flower and its story?
Originally from the mountains, far and high,
Now it blooms across the streets of Hanoi!
The story begins, but when it all started, no one knows,
About two young lovers, deeply in love,
The man, named Khum, loved the woman Ban with all his heart,
They promised to build a dream of happiness together.
Khum was skilled in farming and hunting,
Ban had a beautiful voice that captivated all who listened,
Their love was full of joy, until one day, bitterness struck!
Ban’s heart shattered,
When her father, desiring wealth,
Forced her to marry a rich but lazy man,
One with a hunched back, unwilling to work...
Ban, heartbroken, ran away with her lover,
But the fates weren't kind, and Khum was unable to meet her,
He sent her a message through the Piêu scarf,
But Ban, alone, wandered the mountains in search of Khum.
She wandered the land, seeking Khum,
Her love made the mountains weep,
Ban’s footsteps were lost with each passing day!
The call for Khum echoed through the valleys,
But Khum never heard, never answered,
Exhausted, Ban collapsed in the wilderness,
Her soul forever entwined with the mountains she loved!
From that place, a new tree grew,
With white buds, shaped like a young girl’s hands,
Following her footsteps, it grew everywhere,
This is the Ban flower, still blooming today!
.....
As Khum saw the Piêu scarf, his heart ached,
He rushed to find Ban, but it was too late,
His steps left marks on every village,
And one day, Khum fell... transforming into a bird!
Remembering his love, each season when the Ban flowers bloom,
The birds sing... filled with longing and memory,
This is the legend of the Ban flower!
After hearing the tale... do you remember the Ban flower?
Hanoi, 26/3/2019


18. March has arrived!
March has come, with gentle sunlight falling softly,
Spreading golden seeds on the white Sưa flowers,
Hanoi marks the changing of seasons,
Spring soon departs, and Summer is on its way.
March arrives, bringing warmth to the countryside,
The sky glows with the vibrant red of Gạo flowers,
The village is alive with the sound of laughter,
Welcoming a new season of planting and growth.
March arrives, bringing the scent of Bưởi flowers,
The young moon's light dancing down onto doorways,
Love finds its way through the fragrance of Bưởi,
Filling hearts with joy and endless happiness.
March arrives, with Ban flowers from the northwest,
Gracefully blooming in Hanoi’s streets,
The purple Ban flowers, full of longing,
Red and white, each one a symbol of purity...
March arrives, bringing the delicate Xoan flowers,
Releasing a soft fragrance into the spring air,
The white Xoan flowers, with their light purple buds,
Holding the innocence of our childhood memories.
March arrives, and sometimes the wind turns cold,
Occasionally, the chill of Bân returns,
Though brief, it’s enough to make us shiver,
Reminding us of March’s chilly embrace!
March arrives, bringing so many wishes,
Accompanying us and binding us together,
And should we ever have to leave one day,
We will always carry the memory of March in Hanoi!


19. You Have Returned
You have returned as the cotton flower season ends,
And the evening sun lingers, reluctant to let go of spring,
Isn't that so, Hanoi still waits for you,
Even though you no longer stand waiting at the street corner!
You have returned because of the deep yearning,
Hanoi will always reside in your heart,
How could you forget the white Sưa flowers,
With their tender, passionate beauty!
You have returned because your heart couldn’t forget,
Hanoi will never be erased from your mind,
Holding onto all the quiet, secret moments,
Forever cherishing the memories of the purple Xoan blossoms!
You have returned with so many emotions,
Remembering the sweet scent of Bưởi flowers from long ago,
Somewhere, someone stands in the rain...
You have returned, Hanoi, oh how I miss you!
You returned with March, just like this.


20. You Are Gone
You are gone, but I'll forever remember the cotton flowers,
With their bright red colors that signaled the end of our love,
The day we parted, going in different directions!
You are gone, oh how I miss the white Sưa flowers!
Their pure and pristine color will always remain in my heart,
How sorrowful it is that our love has ended,
Why hold on when there's nothing left to feel?
You are gone, even the Xoan trees feel the pain,
With their petals scattered in the evening sky, tinged with purple and red...
But my dear, stop holding onto the past,
Seek happiness with someone else!
You are gone, and with you, the pain remains,
So many memories, how can they ever fade?
Why does the scent of Bưởi still linger in my thoughts?
So strong, so vivid, in these moments of farewell!
You are gone, but please listen, go back now!
Hanoi, 25/3/2018


